I was fortunate to be offered two rugby tickets to go and see Harlequins play away at Leicester yesterday. Along with my son we’re season ticket holders at Harlequins.

So the chance to go and see our favourite team pit their fast running game against the Tigers was too good to pass up. Especially at the infamous Welford Road ground. And there was splendid hospitality from Europcar, too, hosted by Chris Longmuir, a Europcar regional sales manager. All good. To a point…

…Alas, our losing streak against Leicester continues. Quins got a bit mauled by the Tigers. Still, a great game, and a fantastic ground with a terrific atmosphere.

Mind you, it wasn’t all a losing game. My son Matt won the prize for predicting how quick the first try would be scored. While one of the other guests on our table won the prize for predicting who the first try scorer would be.

Over lunch I was talking to another guest, Russell and his wife Moira. This was their first rugby match. Russell had thought it a good idea and bid for the tickets in a charity auction for Cancer Research. Good for him.

Russell runs his own business. He’s a locksmith. He told me that he buys his vans – currently a VW Transporter – from BCA’s Measham auction house. After three years he then sells them: his last van, which he ran over 90,000 miles, cost him just £500 per year in depreciation. Not a bad return!

Certainly better than losing to Tigers… Corporate hospitality at Leicester rugby club